[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20826-20827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07615]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Army Training Land 
Retention at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area in Hawai[revaps]i

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability 
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding its 
Proposed Action--i.e., the Army's retention of up to approximately 
23,000 acres of land the Army presently leases from the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i. This land is located at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area 
(PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental 
Policy Act (HEPA), the Draft EIS analyzes the potential direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts of a range of reasonable alternatives 
that meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. The Draft 
EIS also analyzes the potential impacts of the No-Action Alternative, 
under which Army use of the land would cease altogether when the lease 
runs out in 2029. Because the proposed retention involves state-owned 
land, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. Therefore, the public 
review process runs concurrently and meets NEPA and HEPA requirements.

DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 60-
day public comment period, which begins April 8, 2022, and ends June 7, 
2022. To be considered in the Final EIS, all comments must be 
postmarked or received by 11:59 p.m. Hawai[revaps]i Standard Time on 
June 7, 2022. Public meetings will be held in April 2022 to provide 
information on the Draft EIS and to enhance the opportunity for public 
input. Public meetings will be held in accordance with current COVID-19 
restrictions. Information regarding how to participate in Draft EIS 
public meetings and how to submit comments is available on the EIS 
website: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted through the EIS website 
(https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS), emailed to [email protected], mailed to ATLR PTA EIS Comments, P.O. Box 3444, 
Honolulu, HI 96801-3444, or provided during public meetings. Comments 
must be postmarked or received by June 7, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Donnelly, Public Affairs 
Officer, by telephone at (808) 656-3160 or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps 
trained on the land now known as PTA. A 1956 maneuver agreement between 
the Territory of Hawai[revaps]i and the Army formally established PTA. 
In 1964, the State of Hawai[revaps]i granted the Army a 65-year lease 
of approximately 23,000 acres of land adjacent to PTA for military 
purposes. Utilities, critical infrastructure, maneuver area, and key 
training facilities now sit on this tract of leased land. Some of these 
human-made features are not available elsewhere in Hawai[revaps]i. The 
parcel also provides access between the PTA cantonment area and 
approximately 84,000 acres of adjacent, federally owned land at PTA.
    The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of 
alternatives: (1) Full Retention (of approximately 23,000 acres); (2) 
Modified Retention (of approximately 19,700 acres); (3) Minimum 
Retention and Access (of approximately 10,100 acres and 11 miles of 
roads and training trails); and (4) No-Action Alternative (under which 
the lease lapses in 2029 and the Army loses access to the land).
    The Draft EIS analyzes land use, biological resources, cultural 
resources, hazardous and toxic materials/wastes, air quality, 
greenhouse gases, noise, geology, topography, soils, water resources, 
socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation, traffic, 
airspace, electromagnetic spectrum, utilities, human health, and 
safety.
    The Draft EIS indicates that under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3, 
continued public access restrictions on land used for traditional and 
customary practices will result in significant but mitigable adverse 
impacts to cultural resources. These significant impacts can be 
mitigated through appropriate consultation with Native Hawaiians and/or 
other interested groups. Impacts can also be mitigated through 
provision of public access to promote and protect cultural beliefs, 
practices, and resources. Impacts to other resources are less than 
significant for all action alternatives. The No-Action Alternative 
would have significant adverse impacts on biological resources, 
socioeconomics, and utilities.
    The Army distributed the Draft EIS to Native Hawaiian 
organizations, to federal, state, and local agencies/officials, and to 
other key stakeholders. The Draft EIS and related information are 
available on the EIS website at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS. The public may also review the Draft EIS and select 
materials at the following libraries:

1. Hawai[revaps]i State Library, Hawai[revaps]i Documents Center, 
478 S King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
2. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
3. Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 
96740
4. Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library, 67-1209 
Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743

    Native Hawaiian organizations, federal, state, and local agencies/

[[Page 20827]]

officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to 
comment on the Draft EIS during the 60-day public comment period. All 
timely comments will be considered in the development of the Final EIS.

James W. Satterwhite,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-07615 Filed 4-7–22; 8:45 am]
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